About Us

“From its inception, LCLAA’s vision has been to create an environment of social, economic and political empowerment for Latino working families. Its proud history is part of a heritage of Latino workers. LCLAA’s leadership and members have always stood and will continue to stand at the forefront of the labor movement in protecting their families, their communities, and their unions. Through our ongoing commitment to organizing around the workplace, the union contract, and the ballot box, we will make our communities strong and the nation stronger. ¡Juntos Podemos!”

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is a national organization representing the interests of approximately 2 million Latino/a trade unionist throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

LCLAA was founded in 1972 by local Latino trade union committees to promote participation by Hispanic trade unionists in a more responsive labor movement. LCLAA builds political empowerment of the Latino family, supports economic and social justice for all workers, and promotes greater cultural diversity at the workplace. The challenge for LCLAA is to bring union members together in solidarity, regardless of race or ethnicity. With 65 Chapters throughout the country and Puerto Rico, LCLAA members engage in different creative programs that promote political empowerment, cultural pride, and economic development of Latino workers and their families.

LCLAA provides a voice for Latino working families nationally. In this effort LCLAA works in coalition with other leading Hispanic organizations to maximize support for economic and social

policies that are essential to advancing the interests of Hispanics. LCLAA also works with these organizations to combat legislation that poses a threat to the Latino community.

LCLAA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, DC. For more information of how to start a LCLAA Chapter in your area contact National LCLAA at 202-508-6919.

Origins of the movement The 1950’s brought many Latino activists to the forefront of the civil rights movement. These activists struggled to begin opening the doors of opportunity for the community by building solidarity and promoting economic justice for all working people. In 1972, Latino trade unionists from all across the United States and Puerto Rico joined together to make a commitment to the Latino community and pledged to fight for the rights of working people.

These trade unionists fundamentally believed that through the union movement & the electoral process, Latinos would be able to strive for social dignity, economic equality, access to the political process and a higher quality of life for every Latino working family. These ideals became part of the “American Dream” for Latino working families. With this dream in mind, these Latino trade unionists made a commitment to the Latino community and formed the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), an organization dedicated to achieving this American dream for all Latino workers through the promotion of the union movement.

LCLAA works with Latino union members to advocate for the rights of all Latino workers and their families at all levels of the American trade union movement and the political process. Simultaneously, LCLAA strives to achieve social and economic equality for each and every Latino worker by developing programs that reach out and educate Latino workers about the importance of participating in the political process in order to ensure a strong voice for Latino working families.

Building Communities —LCLAA builds coalitions between Unions and the Latino community in order to promote an inclusive working family agenda.

—LCLAA works with Unions and the community to organize Latino workers so that they may have the freedom to join the union movement.

—LCLAA works with national organizations to advance the social, economic, political, human and civil rights of all Latinos.

About LCLAA

Since its inception in 1972, LCLAA has remained a grassroots organization driven and directed by Latino labor leaders who understand the importance of unionization in helping workers secure rights and protections on the job, empowering them to become voices for justice and change in their communities.